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The Role of the Airmen as Ambassadors

With our airmen traveled, in addition to letters from our governments, the affections of the entire nation. In many cases, the airmen were true ambassadors of Spain wherever they arrived.

  • The «Plus Ultra» carried greetings from HM the King to the President of Uruguay in Montevideo and the President of Argentina in Buenos Aires.
  • The Elcano Patrol carried messages from the Motherland to cities as far away as Bangkok, Macao, and Hong Kong. The government’s messages were also received by D. Manuel Quezón, President of the Superior Council of the Philippines.
  • Captains Jiménez and Iglesias, flying with the Jesús del Gran Poder, delivered the Treaty of Arica to the President of Chile, Mr. Ibáñez, thus ending the dispute between Chile and Peru. They also conveyed news that they later went to Havana for the appointment of General Gerardo Machado as President of Cuba.
  • Barberán and Collar represented Spain in Havana, carrying the greeting of the President of the Republic. The «Cuatro Vientos» carried the letter from President Azaña to General Gómez, President of Venezuela, and showed affection for exiles in Mexico.

But above all, the heaviest diplomatic pouch was the one they carried back: the affections and friendship of the countries visited.

Harmon Prize: International Recognition

The Harmon Prize, founded by aviatrix and writer Aileen Harmon, is based on an international award to distinguish the great pilots of the countries competing in their feats. It was awarded for the great raids that were becoming the «Nobel Prize» of aviation.

As a demonstration of its great worldwide impact, the Harmon prizes were presented to the President of the USA for delivery to the airmen at the White House.

Similarly, each country belonging to the L.I.A. presented a Harmon to the best national airman.

These are the Spanish winners:

  • 1926 – Ramón Franco Bahamonde
  • 1927 – Rafael Llorente Solá
  • 1928 – Ignacio Jiménez Bragüe
  • 1929 – Ignacio Jiménez Martín
  • 1930 – Carlos de Haya González
  • 1931 – Carlos de Haya González
  • 1932 – Fernando Rein Loring
  • 1933 – Mariano Barberán y Tros de Illanduya
  • 1934 – Rosario Torres Godash
  • 1935 – Ignacio Pombo Alonso-Pesqueira